Method and apparatus for precisely contouring a work-piece imprecisely positioned on a fixture

ABSTRACT

Method and apparatus for manufacturing precisely dimensioned metal parts on a program-controlled machine tool having a workpiece-supporting fixture, without the necessity of precisely locating the workpiece on the fixture. The workpiece is first placed on the fixture in an approximate position within predetermined limits of a standard position. The actual position (i.e., location and orientation) of the workpiece on the fixture is then measured by means of a programmed measuring apparatus while the fixture is accurately located with respect to that apparatus. The machine tool is controlled by a standard program, based on a standard position of the workpiece on its fixture and an accurate location of the fixture on the machine tool. The data defining the actual position of the workpiece on the fixture are utilized to modify the program of the machine tool, so as to compensate for the difference between the standard position of the workpiece and its actual position. The measurement of the workpiece position is performed at a measuring station, and the fixture with the workpiece mounted thereon is then conveyed to a fabrication station, which is shown as including a numerically-controlled five-axis machine tool. The position defining data determined at the measuring station is associated with identifying data of the particular fixture and is stored in a memory. When that fixture arrives at the fabrication station, it is accurately located with respect to the machine tool, and is identified. The identifying data is used to retrieve from the memory the proper set of position defining data, which is used to modify the machine tool program to produce the desired precisely dimensioned product.

Elite States Patent Bederman et al.

Oct. 8, 1974 FIXTURE Inventors: Seymour Bederman, Yorktown;

Larry G. Lankford, Mahopac, both of NY.

International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY.

Filed: Apr. 20, 1971 Appl. N0.: 135,777

Related US. Application Data Division of Ser. No. 756,091, Aug. 29, 1968, Pat. No. 3,633,011.

[73] Assignee:

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/1945 Jennings 33/174 E 12/1954 Tand1er..... 7/1956 Tandlerw. 5/1958 Tandler 12/1969 Lemelson 33/174 L Primary ExaminerWilliam D. Martin, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or FirmGraham S. Jones, 11

[57] ABSTRACT Method and apparatus for manufacturing precisely dimensioned metal parts on a program-controlled machine tool having a workpiece-supporting fixture, without the necessity of precisely locating the workpiece on the fixture.

The workpiece is first placed on the fixture in an approximate position within predetermined limits of a standard position. The actual position (i.e., location and orientation) of the workpiece on the fixture is then measured by means of a programmed measuring apparatus while the fixture is accurately located with respect to that apparatus. The machine tool is controlled by a standard program, based on a standard position of the workpiece on its fixture and an accurate location of the fixture on the machine tool. The data defining the actual position of the workpiece on the fixture are utilized to modify the program of the machine tool, so as to compensate for the difference between the standard position of the workpiece and its actual position.

The measurement of the workpiece position is performed at a measuring station, and the fixture with the workpiece mounted thereon is then conveyed to a fabrication station, which is shown as including a numerically-controlled five-axis machine tool. The position defining data determined at the measuring station is associated with identifying data of the particular fixture and is stored in a memory. When that fixture arrives at the fabrication station, it is accurately located with respect to the machine tool, and is identified. The identifying data is used to retrieve from the memory the proper set of position defining data, which is used to modify the machine tool program to produce the desired precisely dimensioned product.

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FIG. 2|

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRECISELY CONTOURING A WORK-PIECE IMPRECISELY POSITIONED ON A FIXTURE This application is a division of co-pending application Ser. No. 756,091, filed Aug. 29, 1968 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,633,011.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Program-controlled machine tools establish the relative positions of the workpiece and the metal working tool in response to a stored program so as to produce a precise contour on the workpiece. The stored program controls the sequence of motions of the workpiece and of the cutting head or other metal working device. In all such program-controlled machine tools of the prior art, it has been necessary to position the workpiece precisely on a suitable support or fixture, which is in turn precisely positioned with respect to the cutting head.

Program-controlled machine tools, especially those of the type known as numerically-controlled machine tools, are capable of producing precise contours within tolerance limits of 0.001 inch or smaller. In order to maintain the precision of the workpiece contour within such limits, the workpiece must be positioned on the fixture within limits of the same order of magnitude. The precise positioning of a workpiece by either manually or automatically controlled means within such fine limits is time consuming and presents a serious limitation on the output of such a program-controlled machine tool.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The methods and apparatus of the present invention allow an operator to place a workpiece on a fixture at a position anywhere within relatively wide tolerance limits (e.g., A; or A inch) of a standard position. Such imprecise positioning can be easily and quickly accomplished manually or by power operated means. According to the present invention, the program of the machine tool is modified in accordance with the difference between the actual position of the workpiece on its fixture and the standard position, so that the machine tool produces precise contours on the workpiece within the same tolerance limits as if the workpiece were in its standard position.

A workpiece to be precisely machined according to the invention, must first have placed on it a plurality of precisely located datum marks, with respect to which the desired locations of the machine operations are known. In the embodiment described, these datum marks take the form of datum contours which may be formed on the workpiece by conventional, manually controlled machines. These datum contours may be either: (a) two non-parallel straight edges; or (b) three non-parallel planes, whose intersections need not be on the workpiece surface.

The workpiece, with the datum contours formed thereon, is placed on a fixture adapted to support the workpiece while it is being fabricated by one or more machine tools. The machine tool is controlled by a stored program, which, as stored, is effective to produce a finished product of the desired contour only if the workpiece has its datum contours in a predetermined standard position with respect to the fixture, and

the fixture is accurately located in a predetermined position in the machine tool.

The workpiece is placed on the fixture in an approximate position, i.e., within predetermined limits of the standard position. These limits can typically permit rotational displacements of the workpiece, with respect to a center of rotation which is specified with respect to the fixture, such that angles of pitch, yaw, and tilt of up to 30 can be tolerated, while linear displacements, in each of three orthogonal directions, of up to onequarter inch can also be tolerated. (The-maximum size of the tolerance limits is a function of the distances between the workpieces surface discontinuities i.e., straight edges or surfaces which are visible when looking down on a standard-oriented workpiece which is mounted on the fixture.) Thus, the placement of this workpiece in the fixture is easier to achieve than if positioning within, say, a ten-thousandth inch limit were required.

The fixture is then placed in an accurately located position with respect to a table in a measuring apparatus. The table is movable in orthogonal directions with respect to the base of the measuring apparatus. The measuring apparatus controls the movement of the table and also of a probe which is movable vertically to engage and disengage the surface of the workpiece. The table is controlled to produce a relative movement between the workpiece and the probe so that a downward projection of the probe position describes a predetermined path across the workpiece surface. At spaced points along that path, the probe is controlled to move downwardly and engage the working surface. Data defining the points where the probe encounters the datum contours are recorded. After a sufficient number of such points are located, that data determines precisely the position of the workpiece on the fixture. This position defining data is used to compute correction data for modifying the machine tool program so that it will accurately command the desired machining operation on the workpiece in its actual position.

In the apparatus illustrated, the fixture carries identifying indicia which may be read visually or automatically. The probing operation is carried out at a measurement station and the fixture then travels on a conveyor to a fabrication station. Before a workpiece leaves the measurement station, its position defining data is stored in a memory in association with data identifying the fixture carrying that workpiece. When the fixture arrives at the fabrication station, the identifying indicia on the fixture is again observed, and is used to retrieve from memory the position defining data, which is utilized to modify the tool program to produce the desired product. 7

Although only one fabrication station is illustrated, a more typical arrangement would include a plurality of such stations, connected by conveyors, and all having access to a common memory in which the positioncorrecting data for all workpiece-carrying fixtures are stored.

Alternatively, only one operating station may be employed, at which the measurement operation and one or more fabrication operations may be carried out.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating apparatus embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a typical five-axis machine tool, such as may be controlled by the apparatus of this invention;

FIG. 3 is a somehwat diagrammatic elevational view of the measurement station illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view on a greatly enlarged scale, showing one form of position probe which may be used in the measurement station of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a workpiece illustrating four paths of movement which may be taken by the probe of FIG. 4 over the workpiece surface;

FIG. 6 is a graphical illustration of the relationship between two sets of coordinates U, V, W, and U, V, W, which are used in the analysis of the workpiece position;

FIG. 7 is a graphical illustration of the relationship between a set of coordinates X", Y", Z", fixed with reference to the machine tool of FIG. 2 and a set of coordinates X, Y, Z, fixed with respect to the fixture which supports the workpiece;

FIG. 8 is a graphical illustration showing the relationship between the two machine coordinates X, and Y and two compensating coordinates X, Y;

FIG. 9 is a graphical illustration, which cooperates with FIG. 8, and illustrates the relationship between compensating coordinates X, Z and the machine tool coordinates X, Z";

FIG. 10 is a graphical illustration of the angles whose cosines are used as direction cosines in fixing the orientation of the datum contours;

FIG. 11 is a graphical illustration of the midpoint of the mutual perpendicular to two non-intersecting lines, which midpoint is used as a reference point for locating certain workpieces;

FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic illustration showing how FIGS. 12A and 12B are related;

FIGS. 12A and 12B illustrate a part of the logic circuits in the measuring station control element shown as a single block in FIG. 1;

FIG. 13 is a diagrammatic illustration showing how FIGS. 13A and 13B are related;

FIGS. 13A and 13B illustrate additional logic circuits forming part of the measuring station control element;

FIG. 18 is a graphical illustration showing the relationship of the rotation and tilt angles in the fabrication stationand how they are related to the X, Y, Z axes;

FIG. 19 illustrates how the rotation angle is related to the Y", X" axes at the fabrication station;

FIG. 20 is a graphical illustration showing the relationship between the tilt angle and the Y, Z axes at the fabrication station; and

FIG. 21 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 5, but showing a different method of arranging datum contours on a workpiece.

FIGS. 14

FIG. 1 illustrates in block diagram form the principal elements of an apparatus embodying the invention. The apparatus includes a measurement station generally indicated at 1, a fabrication station generally indicated at 2, and a memory generally indicated at 3. The memory 3 may be at either of the stations 1 and 2, or it may be remoted from both of them. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the machine tool which includes the principal elements at the fabrication station 2.

A conveyor 4 delivers to the measurement station 1, a series of fixtures 5, on each of which is mounted a workpiece 6 to be fabricated. Each fixture 5 carries a tag 7 on which are formed identifying data which may be either machine readable or visually readable. The tag 7 on each filter 5 identifies that fixture individually, apart from all the other workpiece-supporting fixtures.

Either an operator or a conventional transfer mechanism, not shown in the drawing, moves each fixture 5 from conveyor 4 to a table 10 in the measurement station 1. At the table 10, shot pins (FIG. 3) or other suitable locating mechanisms engage holes or other accurately located surfaces on the fixture 5, to establish the fixture in an accurate position on the table 10. Table 10 is movable in the X direction along suitable ways 71 by a motor 11. The ways 71 supporting table 10 are mounted on another table-8 driven by a motor 9 along stationary ways 72 in the Y direction indicated in the drawing. A probe 12, illustrated in more detail in connection with FIGS. 3 and 4, is movable in the Z direction (in FIG. 1, the Z direction is perpendicular to the plane of the paper) by a motor 13.

The motor 9 is energized by a Y-drive mechanism 14.

The motor 11 is energized by an X-drive mechanism 15. The motor 13 is energized by a Z-drive mechanism 16. The drive mechanisms 14, 15 and 16 may be of the numerically controlled type. In other words, each motor is controlled by supplying to it a series of energizing electrical pulses, such that each pulse produces one increment of movement of the motor and hence one increment of movement of the workpiece or probe. The pulse frequency and the size of the increments of movement can be selected to maintain the error within any desired limits of accuracy. The supply of energizing pulses to the motors 9, 11 and 13 by drive mechanisms 14, 15 and 16, respectively, is controlled by a measuring station control element generally indicated at 17 and illustrated in greater detail in FIGS. 12 to 17,inclusive.

The measurement station 1 also includes a fixture identifier 20 which reads the tag 7 on the workpiece at the measurement station and transmits data identifying that fixture to the memory 3. Many types of suitable fixture identification systems are known in the art, for example that shown in the patent to Allen U.S. Pat. No. 3,280,659. In the Allen patent, plunger plates are shown which carry binary data, in which is encoded a program for controlling a machine tool. In using such plunger plates in the present invention, the binary data encoded thereon represents an individual identification (e.g., a serial number) for each fixture. As mentioned below, under the heading Operation of Fabrication Station, the tag 7 may also carry data identifying a type of workpiece, which data may be employed to select a program at the measurement station and another program at the fabrication station.

The measurement station also includes a start control 21, which may be a manual push button, or which may respond automatically to the arrival of a fixture 5 in its operating position in alignment with the probe 12, as

determined by shot pins 70. A measurement station program element 22 has stored in it a number of programs hereinafter sometimes referred to as traverse data information for controlling the relative motions of the probe 12 and the fixture 5. Each of the stored programs corresponds to a particular type of workpiece on which the measurement station may be required to operate. The traverse data information may be derived from: (a) a drawing or model of the workpiece; (b) the dimensions of the measurement station 1; (c) the predetermined limits of accuracy within which the workpiece is placed on the fixture. The derivation may be made by personnel and/or by apparatus other than that disclosed herein. The particular stored program to be used is selected by a type of workpiece control generally indicated at 23, which may be a manually operated selector mechanism. Alternatively, type of workpiece information may be read from the tag 7 to select the program. After such a program isselected, it is transmitted to the'measuring station control element 17, which controls the drive mechanisms 14, and 16,

' so that the probe 12 traces certain paths having predetermined projections on the table 10 and hence on the fixture 5.

In the apparatus illustrated, the tracing of a path along the table 10 by the downward projection of the probe 12 is accomplished by holding the probe stationary and moving the table 10 in either or both of the X and Y directions. It will readily be recognized that the same effect could be accomplished by holding the table 10 stationary and moving the probe 12 in either or both of the X and Y directions. The mechanical equivalence between these two arrangements is well known in the art. In this specification wherever a relative movement between the probe 12 and the table 10 is required, it may be described in terms of movement of either the table or the probe. It should be understood that the important function is relative movement between the table 10 and the probe 12. Any statement in this specification that a particular one of these two elements is moving while the other is stationary should not be taken as a limitation of the invention.

As explained in detail below, the program carried out by the control element 17 is effective to locate accurately certain datum contours on the workpiece 6. These contours are preferably either edges of surfaces which have been previously formed on the workpiece 6, e.g., by manually controlled machine tool operations. These datum contours serve as references to determine the localities on the workpiece where further fabrication operations are to be performed automatically. As the probe 12 locates a point on a datum contour on the workpiece 6, data defining the position of the probe (and hence of a point on a datum contour) is fed back to the control element 17 and from it to a measurement station computing element 24. From the data defining at least four such points, the computing element 24 computes data defining the actual position of a workpiece on the fixture 5. This data, termed the position defining data, is different for each workpiece and hence for each fixture, and is stored by the computing element 24 in the memory 3, in association with fixture identifying data from the fixture identifier 20. After the position defining data and the fixture identifying data have been stored in the memory 3, the fixture 5 and workpiece 6 mounted thereon are transferred by a conveyor illustrated diagrammatically at 25 to the fabrication station 2.

The fabrication station 2includes a five axis machine tool generally indicated at 26. The machine tool 26 comprises a table 27 adapted to receive the fixture 5 in an accurately located position determined by shot pins or the like. The table 27 is rotatable about an axis 54 (FIG. 2) by a motor 35 controlled by a rotation axis drive mechanism 42. Table 27 and motor 35 are supported on another table 38 which is tiltable about an axis 39 by a motor 40 controlled by a tilt axis drive mechanism 41. Table 38 and motor 40 are in turn supported on another table 30 movable along a set of ways in the Z" direction by means of a motor 31 controlled by a Z" drive mechanism 32.

A tool holder 51 rotates about a horizontal axis, and is mounted on a carriage 52 (see FIG. 2) for movement in a vertical direction, hereinafter termed the Y" directiomThe tool holder 51' is moved vertically by a motor 34 controlled by a Y" drive mechanism illustrated at 43. The tool holder carriage 52 and its motor 34 are supported on a column 53 which may be driven in the X direction by a motor 28 controlled by an X" drive mechanism 29.

The various drive mechanisms 29, 32, 41, 42 and 43 are controlled by a fabrication station control element 44 which is'in turn programmed by a fabrication station computing element 45 which receives input data from the memory 3 and also from a fabrication station program element 46. The program element 46 receives input information from a fixture identifier 47 which reads the identification data on the tags 7 and supplies it to the program element 46 to select one of many programs which may be stored in the program element. The fixture identifier 47 also supplies the same fixture identifying data to the memory 3 and calls upon it to read out the workpiece position defining data which was stored by the measurement station 1 for that particular fixture and workpiece. That data is delivered to the computing element 45, which modifies the data supplies by program element 46 and causes operation of the control element 44 in accordance withthe modified data so as to produce the required contour on the workpiece 6.

The program element 22 may be any suitable memory device, such as, for example, one of the memories 102 illustrated in the patent to Terzian, U.S. Pat. No. 3,061,192. The computing element 24 may be an arithmetic unit such as that shown at-109 in the Terzian patent, together with a memory dvice (Terzian 102) storing instructions for solving equations (1) to (15) as set forth below. The resulting information is stored in memory 3, along with a fixture identification from identifier 20. The memory 3 may be another memory device (Terizan 102).

The program element 46 may be still another Terizan memory 102. The computing element 45 may be another arithmetic unit (Terizan 109) together with a memory device storing instructions for the solution of equations (89) to (134) below. The control element 44 may be any suitable interface between the computing element 45 and the several drives of the machine tool 26. For example, it may correspond to the output register 136 of Terizan.

It is thus possible for the fabrication station to numerically control the machine tool 26 according to program to produce whatever fabrication step is required. The machine tool program stored in the program element 46 at the fabrication station 2 may be established for a standard position of the workpiece 6 on the fixture 5. As the fixture 5 reaches the fabrication station, the workpieace 6 need not be in the standard position, but is typically in some other position which has been measured at the measurement station 1. The machine tool program of the fabrication station 2 is corrected for the difference between the standard position of the workpiece and its actual position, so that the actual fabrication steps carried out by the machine tool 26 are accurate within the desired degree of precision. The fabrication station may, of course, perform a plurality of operations on each workpiece, following a corresponding plurality of stored programs.

While it is theoretically possible for the apparatus ,to compensate for any finite amount of translation or of roation about any axis between the standard position of the workpiece 6 and its actual position, it is impractical and wasteful'of machine time to try to make the machine compensate for gross errors in the location or orientation of the workpiece 6. It is therefore desirable to place the workpiece 6 on the fixture 5 in a position approximating that of its standard position, i.e., within a quarter'of an inch, for example. The workpiece 6 may be readily placed within such limits by the operatorwho places the workpiece 6 on the fixture 5. The posi tioning of the workpiece 6 within such limits of accuracy may be easily and quickly done, and the limits of accuracy required of the operator or machine to place the workpiece on the fixture need only be in the range of one-eighth inch or one-quarter inch, whereas the desired manufacturing tolerance at the fabrication station may be on the order of 0.0001 inch.

FIG. 2 illustrates a typical five-axis milling machine which may be used at the fabrication station 2 of FIG. 1, and shows the relationship of the coordinate axes X", Y", Z" to the structure of that machine.

The Y" axis is illustrated as being vertical, and hence parallel to the direction of movement of the carriage 52 which is controlled by the Y" drive 43 of FIG. 1.

The table 27 on which the fixture 5 is to be mounted is supported on a complex mechanism not shown in detail, which is in turn supported on a pair of stub shafts 53, pivoted for rotation about the tilt axis 39. The rotation of the shafts 53 about the tilt axis 39 is accom plished by means of a fluid motor 40 connected to a crank arm 50. The X" and Z" axes are both horizontal, and are perpendicular to each other and to the Y axis. When the tilt angle is zero, as in the position shown, the Z axis passes through the center of the table 27. The table 27 is rotatable about axis 54, which is vertical when the tilt angle is zero.

Thus, in the coordinate system illustrated, the X", Y and Z" axes are fixed. The tilt axis 39 may be displaced in the Z" direction, i.e., at right angles to the Y axis. The rotation axis 54 may change its position with reference to the fixed axes as the table 27 is tilted about the axis 39 by operation of the fluid motor 40.

In the five-axis machine tool illustrated in FIG. 2, the motions about the rotation axis 54 and the tilt axis 39 are motions of the workpiece. The motions along the X" axis and the Y" axis are motions of the operating head of the machine tool. The motion along the Z" axis maybe either a motion of the workpiece or of the operating head of the machine tool. This motion along the Z axis is commonly the tool feed motion. v

The invention may alternatively be adapted to other arrangements of the five axes of the machine tool, ranging from one extreme where the workpiece is moved with respect to all five axes, while the tool head remains stationary, to the other extreme where the tool head is moved with respect to all five axes and the workpiece remains stationary.

FIGS. 3-4

These figures illustrate, somewhat diagrammatically, some of the mechanical structures involved in the operation of the probe 12 of FIG. 1. There are shown in FIG. 3, the principal operating parts of the measurement station 1, including a base 60 having a pedestal 61 projecting upwardly from one side thereof. The probe 12 is mounted on a carriage 62which is vertically mo'vable along the Z axis on guides formed at the end of an arm 63 at the top of the pedestal 61. The carriage 62, the guides, and the driving mechanism for the carriage may be conventional, and are not illustrated in detail. A downwardly projecting post 64 is fixed on the bottom of the carriage 62. On the under surface of the lower end of the post 64 is welded one end of a spring finger 65, which is curved substantially in a semicircle, as shown in FIG. 4. At its lower end, the spring finger 65 carries a contact point 66, of generally conical form. Bonded on the spring finger 65 is a resistance wire strain gage element 67 having appropriate wire connections 68.

The structure of the point 66 and its support limit the angular relationship with the horizontal of surfaces which can be traced by that contact point. In the particular structure illustrated, the maximum usable angular relationship is within about 45 to the horizontal. If greater angular relationships to the horizontal are required, other designs of contact point supportmay be employed.

The fixture 5 is fixed in position on the table 10 by means of shot pins 70 (see FIG. 3). Thetable 10 may be moved along the X axis, i.e., from left to right or right to left in FIG. 3, on ways 71 by means of the motor shown diagrammatically at 11 in FIG. 1. The ways 71 are in turn supported on the table 8 which may be driven in the direction of the Y axis, i.e., perpendicular to the plane of the paper in FIG. 3, by means of the motor 9, illustrated diagrammatically in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 5-9

These figures illustrate three of the five sets of coordinates which are used in carrying out the invention. The other two sets of coordinates have already been described above, namely the X, Y, Z fixture coordinates which are fixed with respect to the workpiecesupporting fixture 5, as shown in FIG. 3 and the X", Y", Z" machine tool coordinates which are fixed with respect to the machine tool as shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 shows a set of coordinate identified as U, V, W, hereinafter referred to as the actual position coordinates, which are fixed with respect to the workpiece, 

1. The method of detecting a plurality of discontinuities in surfaces of an object, oriented at random and determining the positional offset of the object from a predetermined position comprising the steps of: a. moving a probe towards a surface of an object until it engages the surface; b. moving the probe in the direction reverse to that used in step (a), for a predetermined distance from said object; c. stepping the probe at right angles to the path of movement toward and away from said object through a predetermined distance; d. moving the probe towards said object again until a second contact is made with said object; e. measuring the distance moved by the probe during step (d); f. repeating steps (b) through (e) a plurality of times and comparing the distances measured at each pair of successive steps (e) and calculating the general slope defined thereby; g. indicating a discontinuity if the the distance measured at one step (e) diverges from said slope more than a predetermined distance and storing data indicating the location of said discontinuity; h. repeating steps (a) through (g) again along a second path until an indication of a second discontinuity is obtained; i. employing means for calculating the orientation of said object relative to a predetermined set of coordinates, and the deviation of the locations of said discontinuities from predetermined positions relative to said previously recorded predetermined set of coordinates therefor, j. and providing an indication of the quantity of said deviation.
 2. A method for measuring the slop of a surface with respect to a predetermined datum plane and detecting a discontinuity, comprising the steps of: a. moving a probe inwardly towards the surface in a direction at an angle to said datum plane until it contacts the surface; b. reversing the probe through a predetermined distance from its point of contact with the surface; c. stepping the probe laterally with respect to its previous path of movement through a predetermined distance; d. moving the probe inwardly toward the surface again until a second contact is made, said second movement being along a path substantially parallel to the First movement toward the surface in step (a); e. measuring the distance moved by the probe during the preceding step, and using such measurement as an indication of the average slope of the surface over the distance represented by the lateral step; f. repeatedly reversing the probe through a predetermined distance from its point of contact with the surface, then stepping the probe laterally along the direction in step (c) and moving the probe inwardly towards the surface again until contact is made along a path parallel to the movements in steps (a) and (d) and measuring the distance moved inwardly by the probe each time; g. employing calculating means adapted for determining slopes and detecting discontinuities from measured data and supplying said data thereto comprising said distances measured in (d) (a), (d), and (f) and h. producing from said calculating means data indicating the location of discontinuities in said surface.
 3. Apparatus for measuring slopes of surfaces and a discontinuity therebetween on a workpiece, comprising: a. means for supporting the workpiece; b. 2 probe; c. means for supporting the probe for movement along a plurality of paths one at a time at an angle to said workpiece; d. program-controlled means for repeatedly moving the probe along said paths until it contacts the workpiece, reversing the probe so as to retrace its path for a predetermined distance, then moving the probe parallel to the plane through an additional predetermined distance and along an additional path moving the probe substantially parallel to its first path until it again contacts the workpiece and for shifting to another location and repeating said sequence of operations; and e. means for measuring the distance moved by the probe as it travels along each of said additional substantially parallel paths; f. calculating means for calculating slopes of planes and discontinuities between planes calculating means to receive data from said means for measuring said producing data indicating slopes and locations of discontinuities; g. and means for registering slopes of planes and the location of a discontinuity between a plurality of planes.
 4. Apparatus for detecting a discontinuity in the surface of a workpiece, comprising: a. a probe; b. means supporting the probe for movement along a first path which intersects a surface of the workpiece; c. program-controlled means for moving the probe along said path until it contacts the workpiece, reversing the movement of the probe so as to retrace the first path for a predetermined distance, then moving the probe at right angles to said path through a second predetermined distance and moving the probe along a second path parallel to said path until it again contacts the workpiece; d. means for measuring the distance moved by the probe as it travels along said second path; e. means for repeatedly and cyclically operating said program-controlled means and said distance measuring means; f. means for comparing successive measurements by said measuring means coupled to received data from said measuring means; g. means for calculating the slope defined by said successive measurements coupled to receive said measurements, h. means for computing an expected value of the address at any given location for a point on said slope coupled to said means for calculating; and i. means for indicating a discontinuity at a said location on the surface of the workpiece when the difference between a particular measurement by said measuring means and said expected value for said location is greater than a second predetermined distance coupled to receive said values.
 5. Apparatus for measuring the slope of a surface of an object with respect to a predetermined datum plane, comprising: a. first means for moving a probe towards the surface in a direction at right angles to said datum plane until it contacts the surface; b. second means for reversinG the probe through a predetermined distance from its point of contact with the surface; c. third means for stepping said probe laterally at right angles to its previous path of movement through a predetermined distance; d. fourth means for moving said probe toward the surface again until a repeated contact is made, said movement towards said repeated contact being along a path substantially parallel to the first movement toward the surface; e. fifth means for measuring the distance moved by said probe during operation of said fourth means; f. means for controlling said second, third and fourth means to perform their operations after said first means repeatedly, and g. calculating means for calculating slopes using such measurement by said fifth means as an indication of the average slope of the surface over the distance represented by the lateral step having an input coupled to the output of said fifth means, h. said discontinuity calculating means including means for determining a discontinuity at a point on data contour of said object with respect to a slope calculated by said slope calculating means by detecting a predetermined deviation of a measurement at such point from the value near such point of said average slope.
 6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein said object includes a plurality of discontinuities, said object including datum contours including two straight, non-parallel lines each comprising the intersection of a pair of planes of any form having a straight intersection for facilitating determination of orientation of a predetermined object, said first means for calculating employing said probe for searching for datum contours comprising coordinates of at least two points Q, R and S, T respectively for each of said datum contours, said calculating means being then operative for computing actual position defining data, accepting said coordinates, calculating direction cosines of said lines, testing for intersection of said datum contours and finding said position defining data and storing said actual position defining data, said calculating means fetching standard direction cosines and standard position data, and then computing and storing matrices and subsequently employing said matrices and fetching stored actual position defining data to determine the error trigonometrically and algebraically between said actual position data and said standard position data in three dimensions including computation of tilt, rotation, and linear displacement of said object from the position defined by said standard position data. 